For more than 20 years, the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has been funding and developing group homes and supervised apartments for people with disabilities and for children in the care of the State’s child protective services system. These homes provide people with disabilities and troubled youth with the safety, support and supervision they need to become part of a community.

Programs are extensively monitored so that we can be sure that community homes are well run, well maintained and provide residents with the services they need to live safely and successfully in the community. DHS pays local community agencies to operate community homes for people with disabilities. These agencies must adhere to strict licensing requirements and are inspected to meet quality care and safety standards.

Before a person moves into a DHS-sponsored community home, he or she is carefully evaluated by a team of doctors and professionals who have experience and expertise with people with disabilities. The department requires that services, tailored to fit each individual's needs, are in place. These services include daily activity programs, job training, transportation and physical therapy.

When choosing a location, DHS requires its community agencies to consider consumer choice and to ensure that the location of their home will positively influence the residents’ quality of life. The agencies also consider the location of other DHS residences in the community, to ensure that homes for people with disabilities are available statewide. DHS funds homes for people with disabilities in all 21 counties of the state.

If you have questions about community living for people with disabilities, we’d like to hear from you.